[1] Byrnes was a high school teacher for eight and a half years and also served as an administrator at the community college level.

Byrnes taught or coached in the districts of Denison, Osage, Riceville, Mason City, St. Ansgar, and Clear Lake.

[2] Byrnes resides on an acreage in Mitchell County with his wife, Colleen, daughters, Alexandra and Scarlett, and son, Nolan.

Colleen is a family nurse practitioner at the Mitchell County Regional Hospital and has received numerous prestigious awards for her work.

The family enjoys their acreage where they have a small cow calf herd, raise gourds and play ball on their diamond.